India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Ukraine, marking a significant turning point in his country’s stance on the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine. Amidst heightened tensions, Modi’s meeting with President Volodymyr Zelensky aimed to boost economic cooperation and defense ties, while also sparking a bid to mediate peace talks. Many analysts believe Modi’s visit was motivated by a desire to strike a more neutral stance after being perceived as leaning towards Russia.
Modi and Zelensky began their meeting by paying respects to the hundreds of Ukrainian children who have been killed in the war, visiting a memorial and laying teddy bears in a poignant gesture. Modi expressed his sadness at the devastation caused by conflict, particularly on innocent children, and extended his condolences to the families who have lost loved ones. He also offered a prayer for the strength to endure the grief faced by these families.
The Indian premier also made brief stops at the Mahatma Gandhi Monument in Kyiv and met with representatives of the Indian diaspora, who greeted him with cheers and chants of “Modi, Modi, Modi.” His visit came days after a trip to Poland, where he had urged diplomatic efforts to end the war, pledging India’s support and emphasizing that no conflict can be resolved through military means alone.
Ukraine’s Presidential Office chief, Andriy Yermak, hailed Modi’s visit as historic and expressed hope that India could play a key role in ending the conflict through a “just peace.” Yermak acknowledged India’s influential status as a powerful democracy and emphasized the importance of acknowledging the aggressor and victim in the conflict. Ukraine has long been critical of India’s reluctance to condemn Russia’s invasion, instead urging Moscow and Kyiv to engage in dialogue and diplomacy to resolve the crisis.
Narendra Modi (Via Narendra Modi/Twitter)
Modi’s visit comes roughly a month and a half after Zelensky criticized his meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, which occurred on the day of Russian missile strikes across Ukraine. Zelensky described the meeting as a “huge disappointment and a devastating blow to peace efforts,” and expressed dismay at Modi’s decision to be photographed hugging Putin. India has maintained a neutral stance throughout the conflict, refusing to condemn Russia’s actions and instead calling for dialogue and diplomacy to resolve the crisis.
Modi’s trip to Ukraine marked the first visit by an Indian prime minister to the country since the establishment of diplomatic relations over 30 years ago, and was seen as a significant gesture of support for Ukraine’s efforts to resist Russian aggression. While the details of the meeting remain shrouded in secrecy, it is clear that Modi’s visit aimed to signal a shift in India’s stance on the conflict and to demonstrate the country’s commitment to promoting a peaceful resolution to the crisis.
